Counter mechanism



July 9,/ 1940- R. s.sMrr|-| 2,207,273

COUNTER MEHANIS M Filed Aug'. 241, 195s e sheets-sheet 1 Jly 9, 1940.

R. s. SMITH COUNTER .MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1925s '6 Sheets-She-et 2 July 9, 1940. R. s. SMITH 2,207,273

COUNTER MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1956 e sheets-sheet s July 9, 1940. n. s; sMlTH coUNTER MEcHAr'usM Filed Aug. 24, 195e 6 `Sheets-Sheet 4 TDTAL GALL() N 3 GRLLONS Inu/:for ,Reuben Sta/zie July 9, 1940. R. s.sM|TH f 2,207,273

COUNTER MEcHANIsM Filed Aug. 24, 193e s sheets-sheet v5 July 9, 1940. R. s. SMITH COUNTER MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 .Einfall Patented July 9, 1940 COUNTER MECHANISM Reuben Stanley Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.,`as

signor to Smith Meter Company, Aa corporation of California Application August 24, 1936, Serial No. 97,567

17 Claims.

Some of the features and objects of the present invention have to do with the novel association of the several units and the cooperation therebetween, while others have to do with the individual units, whether or not they are associated with the other units.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a compact mechanism occupying a minimum of space, a mechanism which will give accurate` measurement .registrations and maintain a high degree of accuracyv for along period of continual use, and a mechanism which is, within reasonable limits, incapable of being tampered with to give wilfully intended inaccurate results.

The invention also includes a novel clearing or set-back mechanism for the trip counter, whereby the set-back operation is accomplished surely, accurately and completely, but with ease and dispatch, assurance being given that a single operation of the mechanism will entirely clear the counter and line up the counter'wheels accurately and in proper condition for the subsequent counting operation. Provision is made whereby the resetting mechanism can not be forced to over-run, that is it cannot be forced to pass the wheels beyond the zero position once they are lined .up in that position. The reset knob is automatically returned to idle'or inoperative position upon completion of the clearing or reset operation.l

As a. special feature, the operation of a single knob accomplishes the set-back or clearing of both the trip counter and the fraction counter, thus notl only simplifying the clearing operation but also insuring that both units are completely cleared, it being impossible to clear one without the other, and, as distinguished from other lcounters having independent clearing devices,

wherein it is possible for the operator to clear one but forget to clear the other.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will become'apparent from the following detail description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a -front elevation of the counter housmg;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 4, the shutter being shown in inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig.. 3, but showing the shutter raised to operative position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, but showing only the details of -a pinion brake;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a detail' elevation of the frame and shaft assembly, most of the counter wheels and gears being stripped therefrom;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an elevation of -the indicator falce plate and counter wheels lying therebeneath, asv viewed from line II-II of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged section on line I2-I2 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section of Fig. 8;

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the drive counter-y wheel of the trip counter unit;

Fig. 15 is 'a side elevation of Fig. 14, as viewed "U from the left thereof, but showing-the pawlmounting in broken-away section;

Fig. 16 is a section on line, |6-I6 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a section on line I'l-l'l of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is an elevation of Fig. 14, as viewed from the right thereof;

Fig. 19 is a medial section through one of the typical counter-wheels of the trip counter, the sectional plane lying on line l9-I9 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 20 is a section on line 20-20 of Fig. 19; 40

Fig. 21 is a 'detached elevation of the gear and pawl assembly shown in Fig. 19, but viewed from the innermost side.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged section on line 22-22 of Fig. 4, showing only the drive shaft and the drive counter wheel of the totalizer unit;

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of Fig. 22, but showing parts in broken-away section on linev 23-23 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, partly 50 in section and partly in elevation, showing the connection of the reset knob with the reset shaft;

Fig. 25 is a section on line 25-25 of Fig. 24;.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged section on line 264-26 55 of Fig. 10; v

on line I3-I 3 Fig. 27 is a fragmentary showing, on an enlarged scale, of the accuracy-wheel and its drive in the same aspect as that of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 28 is a section on line 28-28 of Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary section on line 29-29 of Fig. 27;

Fig. 30 is a section on line 30-30 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 31 is a top plan View of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 30 but showing the parts in changed relative position;

Fig. 33 is a top plan view of Fig. 32; and

Figs. 34 to 37, inclusive, are schematic views il-l lustrating certain features of the reset assembly;

'I'he counter mechanism here illustrated is particularly well adapted for use in connection with fluid-flow metering devices, and has been used to very great advantage in connection with meters in gasoline ilow lines. Accordingly, the unit of the measure indicated on the counter is taken as a gallon, there being three individual counter units, one measuring tenths of gallons, the second measuring, in gallons, individual or trip deliveries and therefore being resettable to zero after each individual delivery, and the third a gallon totalizer. However, it will be readily understood that the counter is adapted for use in connection with any measuring device or primemover capable of applying rotary movement to the drive shaft of the counter, and that the units of measure may be other than those here indicated. Accordingly, the following detailed description of a particular embodiment of the invention is to be considered merely as illustrative of and not limitative on the invention.

The numeral I0 indicates a casting or the like which serves both as a housing forthe counter mechanism, generally indicated at I I, and as a top cover for a fluid flow mechanism (not shown) which is adapted'to be operatively connected yto this counter. Casting I 0 is circular, as viewed in plan, the housing portion I2 extending diametrically across the casting and being substantially rectangular, as viewed in plan. The ange portion I3 of the casting is adapted to fit afuid flow mechanism, or the like, (not shown). Housing portion I2 has a rear wall I4, a shorter forward wall I5, end walls I6 (Fig. 3), and a top wall I1 which has an inclined portion I8 provided with a sight opening I9, below which is positioned glass 20.

Extending inwardly from walls I4 and I5 are bosses 2 I, to the under face of which are secured, as by screws 22, the base plate 23 of the frame of counter II, said frame being indicated generally at 24 (Figs. 9 and 16). tegral end plates or walls 25 and 26 and a shorter, intermediate upright wall 21. From the rearward edge of base plate 23 rise two posts 28 and 29 which are bridgedby cross-bar 30 (Fig. 9) this bar carrying bearing 3| for drive shaft 32.

As illustrated in Fig. 27, vertical drive shaft 32 has bearing near its lower end in a bearing thimble 34 which has press-fit in base plate 23. Pinned at 33 to shaft 32 below plate 23 is a drive pinion 35 whereby rotation of, for instance, the rotor of a fluid flow meter (not shown) is transmitted to shaft 32the counter being geared and calibrated in such a manner that the extent of angular movement of shaft 32 has a known ratio to the output `of the meter, this ratio being such that, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, one revolution of shaft 3l will indicate the delivery of one gallon of fluid through themeter.

Integral with shaft 32 and having end bearing on topof member 34, is a worm 36, the oilice of Frame 24 has in-v which will shortly be described. Pinned at 31 to shaft 32 and lying immediately below bearing 3l, is a drive collar 38, which overlies and frictionally engages bevel gear 39 having a hub portion 40 which extends through bore 4I in indicator wheel 42, this wheel being marked both on its top face and peripheral edge to show tenths of gallons, as indicated at 43. This fraction or accuracy wheel 42 is counter-bored at 44 to take a ber friction washer 45 and a metal washer 46, the latter lying immediately beneath bevel gear 39. Hub 40 extends below wheel 42, the extension' being flattened as at 41 (Fig. 28) to take washer 48, the bore of this washer being likewise flattened to fit the hub flats. The hub and washer are thus held against relative rotation.

Between washer 48 and wheel 42 is a ber friction washer 49, the bore of this washer being circular. Washer 48 extends downwardly to a point below the lower end of hub 40, a thrust washer 50 underlying washer 48 and taking the thrust of spring 5I which rests on top of worm 36., Spring 5I thus tends to compress the friction drive assembly made up of collar 38, gear 39, wheel 42 and washers 45, 46, 48 and 49 towar;1 the stationary bar 30, the upper end of gear 39 being thus pressurally engaged with the underside of drive collar 38, so, as the latter is driven by shaft 32, gear 39 and the washer 48 keyed thereto will be driven, which drive is transmitted through friction washers 45 and 49 to indicator wheel 42. 'Ihe assembly thus provides for the rotation (in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3) of indicator wheel 42. On the other hand, it will be seen that the friction-drive assembly also will permit rotation of indicator wheel 42 with respect to shaft 32, in the event said shaft is held stationary, by rotating ,bevel gear 39 about the shaft. The occasion for imparting this type of drive, which has to do with the resetting or clearing of the counter, will be discussed later.

Indicator face plate 52 (Fig. 11) extends from end-wall to end wall of frame 24, being secured to said walls by screws 53.` The face plate has a sight opening 54, which is viewable through cover-glass 20, whereby at least one of the numbers on indicator wheel 42 may be viewed, arrow indicating the normal position of the zeromarking on the indicator wheel., When the wheel is in zero position, pawl 56 (Figs. 4, 27 and 29) which is pivotally mounted on post 28 at 51, is held by spring 58 in notch 59 provided in the underside of wheel 42. The pawl engages the square-cut shoulder 60 at the end of the notch to prevent counterclockwise movement of the indicator wheel. Thus, in the event shaft 32 be rotated reversely (it being understood that the normal direction of rotation of said shaft is clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3) wheel 42, if it beV direction until the zero is opposite arrow 55,.`

whereupon ypawl 56 engages shoulder 60 tc prevent further wheel-rotation, and the slippage described above will occur.

Pawl 56 will actin the same manner during the 75 clearing or resetting of the counter. With shaft 32 stationary, counterclockwise movement of wheel 42 is then purposely set up through rotation of gear 39 by a manually operated drive gear, in which case, as soon as wheel 42 reaches zero position pawl 56 is projected into notch 59 and further rotation of gear 39 is ineffective furtherv to shift the indicator wheel, the friction drive previously described allowinggear 39 'to rotate idly with respect both tc shaft 32 and wheel 42.

The trip or "set-back counter unit is indicated generally at 6 and includes four individual counter wheels 62, 63, 64 and 65, while the totalizer or continuous counter unit is generally indicated at 66 and includes one drive counter-wheel 61 and six standard counter wheels 68. It will be appreciated, however, that the capacity of the mechanism is not limited to any speciflc number of Wheels on either counter unit.

Totalizer shaft 69 and trip or set-back shaft 10 are supported in axial alignment, but are capable of independent or relative rotation. Totalizer shaft 69 has bearing in end plate 26 and intermediate plate 21, and pinned to this shaft is worm wheel 1| which meshes constantly with worm 36, the worm wheel having a hub portion 12 which carries two diametricallyopposite drive pins 13 extending parallel to the shaft (Fig. Screwed in the end of'shaft 69 is a projecting pin 14 (Fig. 26) which is taken within a socket 15, in the end of trip shaft 10, pin 14 thus providing/ support and bearing for the inner end of shaft 10, the outer thereof having bearing in end plate 25. Collar 16 (Fig.A 3) is pinned to shaft 10 adjacent wall 25, this collar and gear 1| engaging opposed frame walls to prevent endwise movement, in either direction, of both shafts 69 and 10.

I will first describe the mounting of the counter wheels on trip shaft 10, which shaft is provided with a relatively wide key-way 11 (Fig. 9). During normal operation of the counter, shaft 10 is held against rotation with key-way 11 in a definite position, the wheels rotating idly about the shaft. As will appean'during the clearing or resetting operation, shaft 10 is manually rotated, but for the time being this rotating means as well as the means normally holding the shaft against rotation may be disregarded, as they play no part in the counting operation.

The counter wheel 62 of the trip counter may be considered as the drive wheel of this unit, as it is this wheel which imparts the drive from worm gear 1| (and thus from shaft 32 which, in turn, transmits the drive from the prime mover) to the remaining trip counter wheels. particularly to Figs. 14 to 18, inclusive, wheel 62 is made up of a sleeve 18 which is mounted for rotation on shaft 10, and tightly clamped'by rivets 19 to flange 80 of this sleeve are cup-shaped members 6| and 82, pinion-locking-ring 83 and transfer disk 84. Transfer disk 84 has the usual tooth-pair 85 extending radially to the peripheral face 86 of ring 83, while ring83 has usual notch 61 registered with the tooth-pair. Flange 88 of cup member 8| (the outer periphery of which carries the usual numerical indicia 89) is tightly fitted about flange 90 of member 82, and the inner peripheral face of flange 90 holds ratchet ring 9| having relatively fine, internal ratchet teeth. Journalled onv sleeve 18 is gear 92 which carries pawls 93 adapted' to be pressed by spring 93 into engagement with ratchet teeth 9|. The gear is 4also provided with two sockets 94 to take drive pins 13 of worm wheel 1|. The ratchet pawls Referring are so arranged that counterclockwise movement lof gear 92 (as viewed in Fig. 18) will drive cup members 8| and82 and all parts carried thereby in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 16 or in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 15 and 8, while, with gear 92 held against rotation, as it is during the resetting of the counter, members 8| and 82 and all parts carried thereby may ratchet in that same direction.

Though this has nothing to do with the drive of the counter wheels in the counting or adding operation, I will here briefly describe the resetting or lclearing pawl 95 shown in Fig. 15. This pawl has an arcuate head 96 which has bearing in a complementary recess 91 sunk in ring 83. This recess is extended as at 98 tov take spring 99 which tends yieldingly to hold pawl 95 in the position of Fig. 15, the shoulder |00 which defines one wall of the recess extension forming an abutment which limits the counterclockwise movement of the pawl, as viewed in the figure. With wheel 62 set at zero position, the end of pawl 95 -extends through notch |0| in'sleeve 18 and projects through the bore of the sleeve into key-way 11. As gear 92 drives the associated counter wheel in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. (and remembering that we are now considering shaft 1.0 as held against rotation) spring 99 will yield to allow the pawl to be drawn out of the key-way, it following that the counter wheel may be revolved in this direction through any number of revolutions withoutinterference from pawl 95, the pawl merely clicking in and out of the key-way once during each shaft revolution.

Counter wheels 63, 64 and 65 are alike and therefore only one of them is illustrated in detail, this showing being made in Figs. 19, 2O and 21. In these wheels, members 16a, 19a, 80a, 8|a, 83a, 84a, 85a, 81a and 88a are similar, respectively, to those parts previously described and carrying the same base numbers. In this case, however, gear 92a is not provided with drive sockets 94, while the spring-pressed pawls 93a engage the relatively coarse ratchet 94a in member 62a, which ratchet is made up of relatively widely spaced shoulders 94h provided by notching flange 90a as at 94e. There is here shown one effective shoulder 9417 for each numeral on the wheel. The wheels carry reset pawls 95e which are fashioned and mounted precisely like pawls 95.

Pawls 93a and ratchet shoulders 94h are so arranged that when gear 92a (as viewed from the right of Fig. 19) is rotated in a counterclockwise directionnumber wheel 63 is similarly rotated to advance the numerals on the wheel in proper order. On the other halnd, when, during the clearing operation, number wheel 63 is rotated in the same'directionv by the manually operated clearing means, gear 92a may remain stationary while the pawls click overothe ratchet shoulders. i

Extending through the end and intermediate walls 25, 26 and 21'of frame 24, is a pinion shaft |02 (Figs, 4, 6 and l0) upon which are mounted for individual rotation, usual transferl pinions I-03, |04 and-|05. These pinions are of the usual type, that is, every other tooth |06 is of approximately half width, while the alternate teeth |01 are of full width. Except when the counter wheels are around 9 and 0 positions, two adjacent full width teeth |01 of each pinion are adapted to overlie the peripheral face 86 or 86a of the lock ring83 or 83a to the right thereof, and the half tooth |06 between those twofull width teeth will mesh with the gear 92a lying at the left thereof, pinion rotation and hence rotation of the associated gear 92 being prevented by the presence of shoulder 66 or 36a beneath the full-width teeth. The half width teeth, however, are sumciently wide to extend into the path of tooth-pair 05. l

As shaft 32 and hence worm 36 are rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) worm tooth |01 which then is taken between the teeth of pair 85, whereupon the following tooth of the tooth-pair acts against that full-width tooth, further to rotate the pinion. 'Ihis rotation of the pinion rotates gear 92a which, through pawls 93a, rotates wheel 63 in the same direction as wheel 62. The extent of rotation thus imparted to wheel 63 by the time tooth-pair 65 has cleared the pinion and a following full width tooth |01 has engaged peripheral face 86 to check further rotation of gear 92a, is just suicient to bring the numeral 1 on wheel 63 into full view, the zero on wheel 62 coming simultaneously into full view. Thus, for each full revolution of wheel 62, a one-tenth of a full revolution is imparted to wheel 63. In a similar manner, as wheel 63 completes its last one-tenth of a` full revolution, transfer pinion |04 rotates wheel 64 one-tenth of a full revolution. lPinion |05 acts similarly between wheels 64 and 65. It will be evident that continued operation of gear 92 will act through the selective drive connections just described, to advance the counter wheels so the total indicated thereby will represent the total number of revolutions imparted to shaft 32 and hence the total gallons delivered on a given trip or delivery.

As lost motion between the pinions and gears accumulates from right to left of unit 6|, wheel 65 is apt to have considerable play and bring about mis-location of that wheel during subsequent operations, particularly since, during the clearing operation, the drive of the wheels is not through the pinions and gears. In order to overcome this difficulty, a bowed leaf spring |08 is fastened to base plate 23 at |09 and engages pinion |05 (Fig. 5) in a manner yieldably to hold that pinion stationarily iii positions to which it has been moved by the transferdisk on wheel 64, so.the play of \wheel 65 is reduced to the extent of play between its gear 92a and pinion |05.

In the event drive pinion 35 is wilfully or accidentally rotated in a reverse direction (that is, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3) gear 92 is driven in 'a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 18) and the tension of spring 93 is usually such that it presses pawls 93 against the teeth of ratchet 9| with sufficient force to tend to transmit like movement to wheel 62; but pawls 93 will start to click over ratchet 9| as soon as wheel 62 has been reversely rotated sufficiently to engage pawl 95 with shoulder ||3 of key-way 11, which positively checks further reverse rotation of the wheel, it following that continued reverse rotation of pinion 35 will have no further action on the counter indication.

Now referring to totalizer unit 66, it will be noted that shaft 69, to which worm wheel 1| is positively keyed, carries a plurality of key-ways M0 (Figs. 9 and 22) spaced angularly thereabout and associated with the first or drive wheel 61. 'I'his drive wheel is made up of sleeve 18C, to the ange 00e of which are rigidly clamped (by rivets i90) cup member t lo (having numerals'89c on the exterior peripheral face of its flange 88e) gear 92e, pinion locking ring 83C, and transfer disk 84e, the latter having tooth-pair 85e and the locking ring having a registering notch 81e; the construction of the locking ring and transfer disk being the same as that described in connection with Figs. 15 and 17. A spring-pressed driving pawl 95e is mounted in ring 83e in a manner similar to that described in connection with Fig. 15, the nose of this pawl being adapted to engage any one ofthe key-ways ||0. 'Ihis pawl is arranged so that, as shaft 69 is rotated -in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 22)

rotary drive is transmitted through the pawl to wheel 61 to advance the numbers on saidwheel from zero toward 9. If the shaft be rotatedin a reverse direction, ratchet 95o will merely click in and out of key-way ||0 without imparting reverse rotation to the wheel, thoughpreferably there is provided a gravity pawl P (Figs. 7 and 9) pivotally mountd on wall 26 and engaging the teeth of gear 92o in a manner positively to prevent such reverse rotation of wheel 61, it being remembered that in this case the gear and Wheel, proper, are rigidly pinned together.

All the remaining wheels 68 on shaft 69 are similar to wheel 61 except they have no pawl corresponding to 95C, the wheels being mounted for free rotation upon the shaft, except as controlled by the transfer pinions. Thesevtransfer pinions are indicated at ||2 on shaft |02 and function to transfer the last tenth of a revolution of each wheel to the wheel immediately to the left in the same manner as that described in connection with trip counter unit 6|. It will be understood that the worm 36 is of such ratio to worm wheel 1| that one revolution of shaft 32 imparts a tenth of a revolution to shaft 69 and (through drive pins 13) to gear 92, it following n that each revolution of shaft 32 indicates one gallon advance on the trip counter and totalizer units.

The clearing or resetting of the trip counter 6| is accomplished by a novel mechanism. Generally, it is accomplished by advancing all the trip counter wheels to a zero position by rotating shaft in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 8) such rotation being imparted to the Wheels through pawls 95 and 95a, instead of through gears 92 and 92a, as is true during normal counting operation of the mechanism, though it will be noted the direction of clearing movement of the wheels is the same as the direction 0f counting movement. As a result, all wheels which stand at 'zero just prior to the clearing operation must be rotated through 360 to represent the zero in the cleared counter.

Reset shaft 10 has a reset or drive shoulder so l I|3 (Figs. 9 and 34 to 37) whereby the trip 'counter is cleared or reset to zero position. 4This shoulder is here shown as one defining wall of tion of shaft. 10 in a clockwise direction (Figs. 75-V 8 and 34 to 37) eventually drivingly engages shoulder H3 with' all pawls 95 or 95@ (whichl pawls may be considered as drive shoulders on the counter wheels) irrespective of the positions to which the various wheels have been rotated during the counting operation, picking up the wheels in order (that is, first the wheels which.

are at zero, then those at 1, then those at 2, etc.) and rotating them in a manner to bring them back to zero, whereupon further shaft-rotation is prevented by means to be described.

During this clearing rotation of the wheels, the ratchet connections between the wheels and their respective gears allow said gears to remain stationary, except that as all wheels pass from the 9 position to the zero position in the nal one tenth of a revolution, the transfer pinions and the gears on wheels 63, 64 and 65 will be rotated due to the fact that the teeth on the transfer disks are then effectively engaged with the transfer pinions.

. Since one or more of the wheels will probably be at zero when the resetting or lclearing operation is undertaken, and those wheels will be the rst to be picked up by shoulder H3, the reset mechanism must be such that it is capable I of rotating these wheels through a full 360 in order that they may be returned to zero. In order to point out an important feature in the reset mechanism which is concerned with this necessity for immediately picking up the zero wheels, it is necessary to set forth what would happen were it not 'for the inclusion of this feature.

Assume that all trip wheels are set at zero and that shoulder H3 were in engagement with pawls 95 and 95a of all the Wheels. Now assume that the-counter be driven forwardly by normal operation of shaft 32 until the trip' counter read 0109 but that wheel 63, through some slight inaccuracy, excessive wear of parts, or any other cause, has not been advanced quite 360, with the result that its pawl 95a has not dropped in front of shoulder H3. Then, during the rest operation, clockwise rotation (Fig. 8) of the' reset' shaft would not immediately pick up wheel 63, as it does all other wheels set at zero. Instead, wheel 63 would remain stationary while the rest of the wheels have been rotated until theA counter reads 9909.- Then, upon'continued rotation of shaft 10, the-teetlhof the transfer disks 84 and 84a on all wheels except 63 would engage the associatedv transfer pinions, causing rotation thereof as the wheels pass to zero. During this movement, transfer pinion |03, driven by the transfer disk 84 on wheel 62 would engage gear 92a on wheels 63, advancing that wheel 6 3 from z ero to 1. Consequently, the counter, instead of being cleared, would read 0010, and it would become necessary to rotate shaft 10 through another complete revolution to clear the counter. This assumed condition is one which actually happens in the operation of certain types of counters. A

Generally, this condition isv avoided in the present arrangement by definitely assuring that- .as each wheel is advanced to zero position during normal counter operation, the pawl 95 or 95a of' that wheel will definitely be infront of reset shoulder H3 so .as surely to be picked upfduringthe reset operation ahead of all wheels which present any number from 1 to 9. This assurance is gained by means which automatically backs the reset shoulder away from the pawls immediately after the counter is entirely cleared,V it

following that upon a normal re-run of the counter, the pawls may drop over the shoulder somewhat before the associated wheels reach zero position and thus assuredly be ahead of that shoulder (rather than there being any possibility of being behind it) When the wheels finally reach zero position.

How this is accomplished will be described in connection with the following discussion of the reset mechanism. The resetting of the trip counter and of the accuracy wheel is accomplished simultaneously and with the actuation of .a single reset knob, but the resetting of the accuracy wheel will be taken up separately and at a later point.

Mounted for rotation on shaft 10 at the outer face of frame end 25, is a control disk H4 (Figs. 3, 4, 8, 12, 13 and 30 to 32, inclusive), a thin bronze washer H5 preferably being interposed between wall 25 and the control disk and having an extension H6 (Figs. 8 and 12) which is pierced to receive shaft |02, the Washer thus being held from bodily rotation about shaft |02. Pinned at H1 to shaft 'l0 and in facial engagement with control disk H4 is gear H8. Drive pin H9 carried by gear H8 is entered in an enlarged or lost motion socket in control disk H4 (Figs. 12 and 30). Torsion spring I2I is disposed in a recess |22 sunk in gear H8, and the opposite ends |23 of this spring are'applied to disk H4 and gear I8 in a manner tending to rotate gear H8 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 8), maintaining pin I9 at the bottom of socket |20, as illustrated in Fig. 30.

An arcuate recess |24 is cut in the peripheral face of disk H4 of a size and shape to take, With slight clearance, part of gear |25 under certain circumstances. With gear |25 occupying this position, washer H5 and control disk H4 are of a thickness to hold gear HB beyond theV plane of gear |25 (as shown in Figs. 13 and 31), so said gear |25 may be'revolved without in any Way affecting Igear H8. At one side of recess |24 the outer side face of control disk H4 is cut down'as at |26, the resulting thinner portion |23 extendingarcuately about the control disk through about 90, though this .particular degreeofextent is not controlling. Since the control disk at the other side of recess |24 is of full thickness, that portion of the recess-dening w-all which is opposite the thinner portion Vsaid shaft yieldingly to the right, as viewed in Figs. 9 and 10. Pinned to the opposite end of shaft ,|30 at |33 is a sleeve |34 which extends Y through a clearance hole |35 in end wall- 26, the outer end of this sleeve carrying an integral pinion |36 (Figs. 724 and 25) p Resetting knobV |31 has an elongated hub portion |38 through which extends screw |39, the latter being threaded into bore |40 in sleeve |34. Tongues |4| on sleeve |34 project into complementary sockets |42 provided in the 'end of knob-hub |38, the knob and sleeve |34 thus being keyed against relative rotation. Sleeve |38 extends through bearing lu'g |38' (Fig. 3) in housing wall` I6 to t the exterior of the housing, this bearing in the lug providing, in effect, the right hand bearing for reset shaft |30. f

It will now be assumed that the trip counter is set at zero position, ready to indicate a measure of gasoline delivery. The various parts of the reset assembly will be in the positions indicated 'in Figs. 12, 13, 31 and 32. Since gear 125 is seated in notch |24, control disk 114 is held from relative rotation in either direction and spring |2| yieldingly holds gear M8 so its pin |19 is at the bottom of socket 120. Since gear ||8 is pinned to shaft 10, the just described means of holding gear |18 in a predetermined position establishes the position occupied by the key-way 11 in shaft 10 during normal operation of the counter. This normal position of the key- Way is represented in Fig. 34, it being noted that shoulder ||3 is spaced rearwardly from pawls 95 and 95a of the trip counter wheels, all said wheels being now at zero.

As the counter wheels are revolved in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 34 and through the described drive from pinion 35) pawls 95 and 95a' drag clear of key-way 11, and ifmore than one revolution is made by any one wheel, the pawl of that Wheel merely ratchets with respect to the key-way 11.

When the trip counter is to be cleared, knob |31 is thrust to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, moving shaft |30 to the left against the resistance of spring |3| until gear |25 is in the plane vof gear H8, and the knob is then rotated to turn gear |25 in a counterclockwise direction and gear ||8 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8.

Preferably, the teeth on gears ||8 and |25 are chamfered at |45 (Fig. 13) to facilitate easy meshing, and a gravity pawl |46 is pivoted at. |41

to end wan 2'5 (Fig. 8) the pawl being adapted to engage the teeth of gear |25 to prevent clockwise rotation thereof.

A leaf brake spring |40` is secured to end wall 25 at. |49 and frictionally engages control disk ||4 (Fig. 8) to put a friction drag on said control disk so it may not be driven frictionally by its `side-face engagement with gearl I8. .Accordingly, the first bit of angular movement given to gear ||8 by rotation of gear |25 is taken up by drive pin ||9 passing from the bottom of socket |20 to the top thereof (Fig. 32) and during this take-up of lost motion between the gear and control disk, shaft 10 will have been revolved sulciently to bring shoulder ||3 against the pawl 95 or 95a of any wheel which isin zeroposition.

Continued clockwise rotation. of gear ||8 then transmits, through drive pin ||9, like movement to control disk I4, and the instant'an unnotched portion of the control disk is rotated beneath gear |25, inward thrust on knob |31 may be relieved, for said control disk will thereafter hold gear |25 outwardly and in mesh with gear ||8 against the action of spring |3| (see Figs. 32 and 33). Thus, the operator merely has to continue rotating reset knob |31 without thought of holding the gears in mesh,.and continued clockwise movement of shaft 10 (Fig. 8) will rotate the zero wheels in a clockwise direction and, will, v in order, pick up the remaining wheels as shoulder ||3 reaches the pawls 95 or 95a thereof.

For instance, in Fig. 35, it is indicated that the counter wheel was originally driveni to bring numeral 4 into view, which has moved the pawl 950i that wheel to the position illustrated. Then, whenshaft 10 is rotated in a clockwise direceral functions.

aant/327s tion, shoulder |13 will nally reach that pawl 35, as illustrated in Fig. 36, whereupon continued shaft rotation will impart like movement through said pawl and shoulder |00 to the counter wheel.

As rotation of control ring H4 continuesjthe let-down shoulder |50, which defines the end of the thinner portion |26' of cam disk ||4, passes beneath gear |25, allowing that gear to be drawn by spring |3| slightly to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, though not out of mesh with gear IIB. When disk ||4 is revolved sufficiently to reach again the positionof Fig. 30, spring |3| will snap gear- |25 back into recess |24 and thus disengage the gears to prevent further rotation of the control disk and check the clockwise rotation of gear |13.

Since shoulder |20 is opposed to gear |25 as recess |24 nears that gear in the movement last described, it prevents any chance of gear i |25 being over-driven in such a manner as to reach the other side of the recess and thus be maintained in mesh with gear l I8, which might otherwise result in over-clearing.

At the time gear |25 is slipped back into recess |24, shaft 1n will be in such a position that s110111- der |13 will be in engagement with the pawls of all the counter wheels and will line them up accurately in zero position (Fig. 37). However, the instant gear |25 has been spring-urged out of mesh with gear ||8, that gear ||8 is freed for counterclockwise-movement (as viewed in Fig. 8) under the impulse of spring |2| which thus causes lost motion between pin H9 and socket |20, restoring pin I9 to the position of Fig. 30 and moving shaft 10 in a counterclockwise direction sufficient to back shoulder ||3 away from pawls 05 and 95a'an appreciable extent (Fig. 34).

This back-01T of the shoulder insures that during subsequent normal operation of the counter 360, while gear ||8 on shaft 10 will be rotated 360 plus, though shaft 10 is automatically rotated reversely by spring |22 an amount equal to this plus value when gears 8 and |25 are subsequently unmeshed. Since the plus value is the measure of the lost' motion necessarily occuring before shoulder I3 reaches a position of engagement with the pawls of the first wheels to be picked up, no one of the wheels will be rotated more than 360 by the clearing operation.

It will be noted that the reset drive is automatically disconnected when the counter is cleared (by-virtue of spring |3| returning gear |25 to a position occupying recess |24) and that all the operator has to do to complete fully the clearing operation is to press in knobl |31, hold it pressed in while he `rotates the knob slightly, and then relieve the inward pressure but continue to rotate the knob until spring |3| snaps gear |25 out of mesh with gear ||8. If he continues rotation of the knob after the clearing operation, no harm is done, since gears |25 and ||8 are then out of mesh and shaft |30 is in idle position.

It will be noted that control disk ||4 has sev- Among these, it acts with gears |25 and ||8 to initially locate the reset shoulder ||3 with respect to the pawls `of the counter in that it establishes the time at which gears |25 and IIB are allowed to be unmeshed by the action of spring |3I. And its shoulder |29 prevents accidental over-clearing. i

' I will now describe the means for resetting the accuracy wheel, this means being associated with the trip-counter clearing means so that actuation of knob |131 simultaneously clears bothV the trip counter and the accuracy wheel.

Sub-reset shaft |5| has bearing in end Wall 26 and in extension |52 of bar 30 (Fig. 10), being .capable of limited longitudinal movement through its bearings. At its outer end, shaft |5| carries a pinion |53, meshing with idler pinion |54 (Fig. '7) mounted for rotation on a stub shaft |55 extending from wall 26. Pinion |54 meshes with idler pinion |56 on stub shaft |51 and also meshes with gear |36 -on'sleeve |34, which sleeve, as previously noted, is keyed both to knob |31 and shaft |30.

The inner end of shaft |5| carries bevel pinion |58 (Figs. 9 and 10) which is lined up with bevel pinion 39 on shaft 32, though normally pinion |58 is held out of mesh with pinion 39 through the action lof spring |3| on shaft |30, through the means to be described. A crosshead |60 has a bearing portion |6| taking shaft |30, said portion being held against movement longitudinally of the shaft due to its interposition between collar |62 pinned on that shaft and a ber washer |63 on the shaft at the inn'er end of sleeve |34. Cross-head |60 has a bearing portiori |64 taking shaft |5I and engaging a collar |65 pinned to shaft |5I. Spring |66 on shaft |5| is interposed between portion |64 and a collar |61 pinned on the shaft, this spring tending to thrust the shaft to the left, as viewed in Fig. 9.

The extent of this leitwise movement with respect to cross head |60 is limited by contact of collar |65 with cross head portion |64 which, when shaft |30 is held to the right by spring |3| holds gear |53 clear of pinion 39.

With the parts in the position of Figs. 3 and 4,

it will be seen that rotation of knob |31 merelyidly rotates gears |36, |56, |54, |53, |56, since the latter gear is held out of mesh with pinion 39. However, when knob |31 is pressed inwardly to move shaft |30 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 10, to bring about the previously described engagement of gears ||8 and |25, cross-head |60 is likewise moved to the left, and through spring |66, moves shaft |5| in the same direction thus meshing bevel pinion |58 with bevel pinion 39, it being noted that the space between the side `wall 26 and pinions |36 and |53 permits this left-wise movement of the two shafts, with the pinions still remaining in mesh with the widerface idlerpinions |54 and |56.

If, upon this left-wise movement of shaft I5I, the teeth of pinions 39 and |58 are in'position to ride one another instead of meshing, spring |66 will yield after the teeth come into such engagement and then, upon slight rotation being .given to shaft |5| through knob rotation, as the teeth. come into proper registration spring |66 will thrust shaft I5I to the left and cause full meshingof thebevel pinions.

Upon `continued rotation of knob |31V in a direction proper to clear the trip counter wheels,

The gear ratio between pinion |36 and bevel 10 pinion 39 is one to one, but the ratio of gears |25 and I|8 is such that bevel gear 39 must be rotated more than one complete revolution before gear |25 has been rotated suiiciently to clear the trip counter, it thus being assured that the 15 accuracy Wheel is cleared before the trip counter lis clearedand eliminating any chance of an inicomplete accuracy wheel clearing.

After the accuracy wheel is stopped at zero position, the continued rotation of pinion 39 20 (which is brought about by the necessarily continued rotation of shaft |30, and hence of shaft |5I, toclear the trip counter) -is accommodated by the slip or friction drive mounting between the accuracy wheel and that bevel pinion, as has 25 previously been described.

When shaft |30 is returned by spring I3I to the right, as occurs at the end of the trip counter clearing operation, cross-head |60 likewise returns shaft I5| to the right and disengages pin- 30 ion |58 from pinion 39, thus restoring the entire mechanism to normal condition.

It has been found desirable to provide a shutter for concealing the totalizer wheels from unauthorized persons. For this purpose there is 35 provided a shutter in the form of a blade |10 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7) extended across the face of the totalizer wheels and having in-turned ends. |1| which have bearing on shaft 69. A link |12 .extends from one end |1I to the usual eccentric 40 pin |13 on the cylinder of lock |14. The barrel |15 of this lock is detachably held in housing boss |16 by detent |11. Through key control of the `cylinder carrying eccentric pin |13, .the latter may be rotated in a manner to throw the 45 ,shutter to the' raised position of Figs. 'I and 4 and the corresponding portion of glass 20.

It will be understood various modifications and changes in design, structure and arrangement 55 may be made without 'departing from the spirit and scope o f the appended claims, the disclosed embodiment of the inventionxbeing illustrative of and not limitative on the invention.

I claim:

. 00 l. In a counter resetting mechanism, a counter shaft, a counter wheel on said shaft, means for `rotating said shaft ,in a given direction, drive connective means between the shaft and wheel whereby shaft rotation rotates the. wheel, said 65 shaft rotating means embodying a first gear connected to said shaft, a second gear movable into and out of' mesh with said first gear, means for rotating said second gear when it is meshed with therst gear; and means acting automatically 70 u upon the unmeshing of the gears to rotate said counter shaft in a reverse direction a limited amount Without rotating said wheel.-

r 2. In a counter resetting mechanism, a counter shaft, a counter wheel on said shaft, meansf for u rotating said shaft, drive connective means between-the shaft and wheel whereby shaft rotation in one direction rotates the wheel, means adapted to hold said shaft against other than slight rotation in the opposite direction,'said shaft rotating means embodying a first gear connected to said shaft, a second gear movable into and out of mesh with said first gear, means for rotating said second gear when it is meshed with the first gear, means acting automatically to unmesh said gears after said first gear has been rotated in said one direction a predetermined amount, and means holding said gears in mesh until said first gear is rotated said predetermined amount.

3. In a counter resetting mechanism, a counter shaft, a counter wheel on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft in a given direction, drive connective means between the shaft 'and wheel whereby shaft rotation rotates the wheel, said shaft rotating means embodying a rst gear connected to said shaft, a second gear movable into and out of mesh with said first gear, means for rotating said secondgear when it is meshed with the first gear, means acting automatically to unmesh said gears after said first gear has been rotated a predetermined amount, and means acting automatically upon the unmeshing of the gears to rotate said counter .shaft in a reverse direction a limited amount without rotating said wheel.

4. In a counter resetting mechanism, a counter shaft, a counter wheel on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, drive connective means between the shaft Iand wheel whereby shaft rotation rotates the wheel, said shaft rotating means embodying a first gear connected to said shaft, a second shaft, a second gear on the second shaft, said second shaft being movable endwise to move the second gear into and out of mesh with the rst gear, means for Amoving said second shaftI endwise in said one direction, yieldable means tending to move said second shaft in the opposite direction to move said second gear out of mesh with the first gear, releasable means adapted to hold the second shaft against endwise movement in said opposite direction until the counter shaft has been rotated,y a predetermined extent, and means automatically releasing the holding means when the counter shaft has been rotated said predetermined extent. A

5. In a counter resetting mechanism, a .counter shaft, a counter wheel on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, drive connection means between the shaft and wheel whereby shaft rotation rotates the wheel, said shaft rotating means embodying a vrst gear connected to the shaft, a second gear movable axially into and out of mesh with said first gear', means tending normally to hold said second gear out of mesh with the first gear, means for moving the second gear into mesh with the first gearfand a control memberadapted to be driven by said first gear and cooperating with the second gear vto hold it in mesh with the first gear until said first gear has been rotated a predetermined amount.

6. In ai counter resetting mechanism, a counter shaft, a counter wheel on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft in a given direction, drive connection means between 'the shaft and TWheel whereby shaft' rotation rotates the wheel,.said shaftrotating means embodying a first gear connected to the shaft, a second gear movable axially Y of mesh with the first gear, means for movingaaoaava the second gear into mesh with the first gear, a control member adapted to be driven by said vfirst gear and cooperating with the second gear shaft rotating means embodying a first gear connected to the shaft, a second gear movable axially into and out of mesh with said first gear, means tending normally to hold said second gear out of mesh with the first gear, means for moving the second gear into mesh with the first gear, a control member, a'lost-motion drive connection between said second gear and the control member, and means adapted to rotate said counter shaft in a -reverse direction a limited amount after said first gear has been successively meshed with the first gear, rotated, and unmeshed from the first gear, all without imparting reverse rotation to said wheel, said last mentioned means embodying a torsion spring applied to the second gear and control member and effective relatively to rotate them through an extent measured by the extent of lost motion allowed in said lostmotion drive connection.

8. In a counter resetting mechanism, a counter shaft, a counter wheel mounted for rotation on said shaft, a drive shoulder on said shaft, a drive shoulder on said wheel, said shaft shoulder being adapted to engage the wheel shoulder to drive the wheel when the shaft is rotated in a given direction, means for rotating said shaft in said direction a given extent, a releasable, positively acting lock automatically operable when the shaft has been rotated said extent andefiective to prevent further shaft rotation in said one direction but permitting limited rotation of theshaft in a reverse direction, a spring acting to rotate said shaft in a reverse direction, after it has been rotated said given extent, to back the shaft shoulder away from the wheel shoulder, and means limiting the extent of such reverse rotation of the shaft;

9. In a counter having a pair of shafts with operatively connected counter wheels on one of the shafts anda fraction wheel on the other shaft, the counter wheels being selectively rotatable with or with respect to their shaft and the fraction wheel being selectively rotatable with or with respect to its shaft; resetting mechanism comprising means for rotating the fraction wheel with respect to its shaft, means interconnected with the first means for simultaneously rotating said one shaft, and resetting pawls carried by the counter wheels and'adapted to impart rotative drive from 'the one shaft to the counter wheels.

10. In a counter having a pair of shafts with operatively connected' counter wheels on one of the shafts and a fraction wheel on the other able with or with respect totheir shaft and the the fraction wheel being selectively rotatable with or with respect to its shaft; resetting mechanism comprising means for rotating the fraction wheel with respect to its shaft,'means interconnected with the first means'for simultaneously rotating 75 said one shaft, resetting pawls carried by the counter wheels and adapted to impart rotative drive from the one shaft to the counter wheels, a zero stop adapted to limit the extent of fraction wheel rotation, and a second zero stop adapted to limit the extent of rotation of said one shaft.

ll. In a counter having a pair of shafts with operatively connected counter wheels on one of the shafts and a fraction wheel on the other shaft, the counter wheels being selectively rotatable with or with respect to their shaft and the fraction wheel being selectively rotatable with or with respect to its shaft; resetting mechanism comprising means for rotating the fraction wheel with respect to its shaft, means interconnected with the first means for simultaneously rotating said one shaft, resetting pawls carried by the counter wheels and adapted to impart rotative drive from the one shaft to the counter wheels, a zero stop adapted to limit the extent of fraction wheel rotation, and a second "zero stop adapted to limit the extent of rotation of said one shaft, the angularvelocity of the fraction wheel being greater than that of the counter wheels, and said first stop being adapted to become effective before vthesecond stop becomes effective. Y v

12.1n a counter, a shaft, a counter wheel mounted for rotation on the shaft, a drive shoulder on the shaft,a drive shoulder on the wheel, said shaft shoulder being adapted to engage the wheel shoulder to drive the wheel toward zero position when'the shaft is rotated in a given direction, and mechanism for rotating said shaft in said directiona given extent and then acting to rotate the shaftA ina reverse direction to back the shaft shoulder 'away from the wheel shoulder, said mechanism lembodying a control member on the shaft, a rotary, lost-motion drive-connection between the shaft and control member, a spring acting between the control member and shaft and tending to take up the lost motion of the drive connection by its tendency to rotate the shaft in said reverse direction and with relation to the control member, means for rotating the shaft in said given direction and thereby tendt ing to take up the lost motion in the drive c'onnection in a direction tending to tension the spring when the control member is retarded against movement in said given direction, continuing rotation of the shaft in said opposite direction engaging said shoulders, moving the counter wheel towards zero position and driving the control member in the same direction, and means positively checking rotation of the control member when it has rotated a predetermined extent and interrupting the drive to the shaft when the wheel reaches zero position, said spring being thereafter effective to rotate the; shaft reversely a limited extent.

13. In a counter, a shaft, a counter wheel mounted for rotation on the shaft, a drive shoulder on the shaft, a drive shoulder on the wheel, said shaft shoulder being adapted to engage the wheel shoulder` to drive the wheel toward zero position when the shaft is rotated in a given direction, and mechanism for rotating said shaft in said direction a .given extent and then acting io rotate the shaft in a reverse direction to back the shaft shoulder away from the wheel shoulder, said mechanism embodying a control member on the shaft, a rotary, lost-motion drive-connection between the shaft and control member, a friction brake acting on the'control member, a spring acting between the control member and shaft and tending to take up the lost motion of the drive connection by its tendency to rotate the -shaft in said reverse direction and with relation to the control member, means for rotating the shaft in said givendirection and thereby first taking up the lost motion in the drive connection in a direction tending to tension the spring, continuing rotation of the shaft in said opposite direction engaging said shoulders, moving the counter wheel towards zero position and positively driving the control member in4 the same direction, and means positively and simultaneously' checking rotation of the control member and interrupting the drive to the shaft when the wheel reaches zero position, said spring being thereafter effective to rotate the shaft reversely a limited extent.

14. In a counter having a pair of shafts with operatively connected counter wheels on one of the shafts and a fraction wheel on the other shaft, the counter wheels being selectively rotat-l `able with or with respect to their shaft and the fraction wheel being selectively rotatable with or with respect to its shaft; resetting mechanism comprising means for rotating the fraction wheel with respect to its shaft, resetting pawls carried by the counter wheels and adapted to impart rotative drive from the one shaft to the counter wheels, a pair of gears, one on each shaft, a pair of axially movable shafts, a pair of gears mounted, one each. on said axially movable shafts, said second pair of gears being movable into and out of mesh, one with each of the first pair of gears, by virtue of axial movement of said axially movablershafts, means interconnecting said axially movable shafts for coincident rotation, and means interconnecting said axially movable shafts for coincident axial movement in a direction to mesh said gears. A

15. In a counter having a pair of shafts with operatively connected counter wheels on one of the shafts and a fraction wheel on the other shaft, the counter wheels being selectively rotatable with or with respectto their shaft and the fraction wheel being selectively rotatable with or with respect to its shaft; resetting mechanism comprising means for rotating the fraction wheel with respect to its shaft, resetting pawls carried by the counter wheels and adapted to impart rotative drive from the one shaft tothe counter wheels, a pair of gears, one on each shaft, a pair of axially movable shafts, a pair of gears mounted, one each, on said axially movable shafts, said second vpair of gears being movable into and out of mesh, one with each of the first pair of gears, by virtue of axial movement of said axially movable shafts, means interconnecting said axially movable shafts for coincident rotation, and yieldable means interconnecting said axially movable shafts for coincident axial movement in a direction to mesh said gears,

16. In a counter having a pair of shafts with operatively connected counter wheels on one of the shafts and a fraction wheel on the other shaft, the counter wheels being selectively rotatable with or with respect to their shaft. and the fraction wheel being selectively rotatable with or with respect to its shaft; resetting mechanism' comprising means for rotating the fraction wheel with respect to its shaft, resetting pawls carried I by the counter wheels and adapted to impart rotative drive from the one shaft to the counter. Y

wheels, a pair of gears, one on each shaft, a pair of axially movable shafts, a pair of gears mounted, one each, on said axially movable shafts, said second pair of gears being movable into and out of mesh, one with each of the first pair of gears, by virtue of axial movement of said axially movable shafts, means interconnecting said axially movable shafts for coincident rotation, and means interconnecting said axially movable shafts for coincident axial movement in both directions.

1'7.` In a counter having a pair of shafts with operatively connected counter wheels on one of the shafts and a fraction wheel on thel other shaft, the counter wheels being selectively rotatable with or with respect to their shaft and the fraction wheel being selectively rotatable with or with respect to its shaft; resetting mechanism comprising means for rotating the fraction Wheel with respect to its shaft, resetting pawls carried by the counter wheels and adapted 'to impart rotative drive from the one shaft to the counter Y wheels, a pair of gears, one on each shaft, a pair of axially movable shafts, a pair of gears mounted, one each, on said axially movable shafts, said# second pair of gears being movable into and out of mesh, one with each of the rst pair of gears, by virtue of axial movement of said axially movfable shafts, means interconnectingsaid axially movable shafts for coincident rotation, means interconnecting said axially movable shafts for co incident axial movement in both directions, yieldlable means tending to move said axially movable shafts in a direction to unmesh said gears, and means acting to hold said axially movable shafts against movement under the action of said'yieldable moving means after the gears have been meshed and until said one of the shafts has been rotated through a predetermined extent.

REUBEN STANLEY SMITH. 

